Lackey helps Angels sweep Yankees

ASIANS IN ACTION Taiwan’s Ni Fu-te was in action as Detroit downed Cleveland, while elsewhere Ichiro Suzuki helped Seattle to victory against Texas

AP, AND STAFF WRITER, WITH CNA , ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA

The Detroit Tigers’ Taiwanese reliever Ni Fu-te pitches against the Cleveland Indians in the ninth inning of their game on Sunday in Detroit. The Tigers beat the Indians 10-1.

PHOTO: AP

AMERICAN LEAGUE

John Lackey pitched seven solid innings as the Los Angeles Angels completed a sweep of the New York Yankees with a 5-4 victory in the American League on Sunday.

Lackey (4-4) quickly worked through the Yankees lineup, allowing two runs on six hits. The Angels’ ace struck out six in one of his most efficient starts since missing the first six with a forearm strain.

C. C. Sabathia (8-6) gave up five runs and struck out six in six 2-3 innings against the Angels.

Brian Fuentes struck out Alex Rodriguez for the final out and earned his 26th save in 29 chances.

Sabathia, who was 5-1 with a 2.33 ERA away from Yankee Stadium entering the game, was solid through three innings. He got help from Rodriguez and Robinson Cano on two double plays to get out of the first and third, but he gave up four runs in the fourth.

All-Star Justin Verlander (10-4) pitched seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and three walks. He struck out eight, giving him 149 for the season.

Thomas, who has replaced Magglio Ordonez in the lineup against right-handers, finished a double short of the cycle. Inge, headed to today’s All-Star game, homered in the fourth and fifth innings.

Tomo Ohka (0-3) took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits and a walk in 3 2-3 innings.

Taiwanese pitcher Ni Fu-te was brought into the game to replace starter Armando Galarraga. Ni pitched 1.1 innings, giving up one hit and one run.

Ni faced the Indians’ best hitter Grady Sizemore when he replaced Galarraga at the top of the seventh, striking him out after Sizemore hit a fly ball to left field.

Then Victor Martinez was lined out at second base and created a double play as Ben Francisco, who was on second base, made a base running error and was forced out.

At the top of the eighth, South Korean hitter Choo Shin-soo made a two-base hit to right field before Ni was replaced.

Ni’s earned run average went up to a 2.45.

He has pitched a total of 7.1 innings with six hits, one walk, eight strikeouts, giving up two runs since being called up to the Major League.

MARINERS 5, RANGERS 3

At Seattle, pinch-hitter Chris Shelton and Rob Johnson hit consecutive RBI singles with two out in the seventh inning to lead Seattle past Texas.

All-Star Ichiro Suzuki had two hits and drove in a run for the Mariners, extending his hitting streak to 11 games.

Hank Blalock and Nelson Cruz homered for the Rangers.

Derek Holland and Darren O’Day (2-1) combined to retire the first two batters in the Seattle seventh, but Ken Griffey Jr. followed with the first of four straight singles for the Mariners.

In other games it was:

• Red Sox 6, Royals 0

• Orioles 4, Blue Jays 2

• Twins 13, White Sox 7

• Athletics 7, Rays 3

NATIONAL LEAGUE

AP, MILWAUKEE

All-Star Orlando Hudson homered twice and Clayton Kershaw won his fifth consecutive road start as the Los Angeles Dodgers capped the best first half in the majors with a 7-4 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday.

Manny Ramirez went 3 for 3 and scored twice to help the Dodgers finish a 6-3 road trip for their best start in 32 years at 56-32.

Backup catcher Brad Ausmus also homered and James Loney drove in two runs with two singles.